By Sylvie McCarthy

The link hosted its second annual Festival of Trees, in partnership with To The Moon Party Designs, on Nov. 22.

The event featured live music, kids’ crafts, free photos with Santa and a local makers’ holiday market. There were also holiday trees decorated and sponsored by various local businesses and organizations. These businesses and organizations included Compass Real Estate, Zany Du Designs and St. Johns County Silent Book Club, New Beauty Company Aesthetics, Unlockt, Ponte Vedra King of Pops, Chomic Combat Karate and Care On Call Pediatrics.

Each tree was attached to a charity, and festivalgoers were encouraged to bid on their favorite trees. The tree decorated by New Beauty Company Aesthetics was won by Michaela Hill for $230. That money went to support Hadassah’s Hope, a local charity that helps to support women who have been sexually trafficked. The tree decorated by Compass Real Estate was won by Michael Sardo for $110. Compass Real Estate chose Daniel Kids, a charity that supports children and families, to receive their donation this year. Other charities represented at the festival included I See You NICU, Sapna Foundation, 904WARD and Wounded Warrior Project.

Below is the full list of winners from the festival.

  • Michael Javier — $150, charity is I See You NICU, donor is Care On Call Pediatrics
  • Michaela Hill — $230, charity is Hadassah’s Hope, donor is New Beauty Company Aesthetics
  • Jess Chard — $95, charity is 904WARD, donor is Zany Du and SJC Silent Book Club
  • DaGmara Hasse — $90, charity is Turning Point USA, donor is Ponte Vedra High School TPUSA Club
  • Aimee Mannino — $75, charity is Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, donor is Ponte Vedra King of Pops
  • Becca Burgess — $50, charity is Noc’n Out Breast Cancer, donor is To The Moon Party Design
  • Becca Burgess — $100, charity is Sapna Foundation, donor is Unlockt
  • Claudia Maya — $60, charity is Noc’n Out Breast Cancer, donor is To The Moon Party Design
  • Michael Sardo — $110, charity is Daniel Kids, donor is Compass Real Estate
  • Kim Lambros — $30, charity is Noc’n Out Breast Cancer, donor is To The Moon Party Design
  • Sandra Stoppa — $125, charity is The AnnieRuth Foundation, donor is The AnnieRuth Foundation
  • Julia Muniz — $80, charity is Wounded Warrior Project, donor is Chomic Combat Karate